'Of Genius', in The Occasional Paper, and Preface to The Creation

"'Of Genius', in The Occasional Paper, and Preface to The Creation by Aaron Hill" is a thought-provoking exploration of exceptional talent and inventiveness, likely from the 1700s. The book gathers an essay and a preface by Aaron Hill to consider what genius is and how it shows itself in art and writing. Genius, according to the first essay, is not just something you are born with; it grows with learning, where you live, and what you like. The writer stresses that everyone is particularly good at something and that we should help people find and strengthen their skills. Aaron Hill’s preface looks at the poetry of the time and finds it missing something important, urging poets to bring back the deep feelings and imagination found in older writings. Hill wants poetry to be straightforward but still meaningful, using images to stir emotions instead of just showing off complicated techniques. Overall, the book presents in-depth thoughts on the artistic process and argues for people to express themselves honestly and emotionally in their work.